Texas’ First Court of Appeals has denied Miller’s petition to remain on the ballot. Texas Chief Justice Terry Adams didn’t stop there. Adams warned Miller that the mandamus petition filed in her case contained citations and quotes that appear to be “AI-fabricated hallucinations.”
Adams emphasized that submitting fictitious or misleading legal citations, whether caused by unverified AI output or otherwise, is a serious violation of an attorney’s duty of candor to the court. He cites rules like Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 38.1 and Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 38.9, as well as prior case law, to underscore that lawyers must ensure all cited authorities are accurate and real.
Adams warned that consequences for such conduct could include striking the filing and referring the attorney to the State Bar for discipline.
Paula Maria Miller was seeking the judge position in Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 3. Fort Bend County Democrats say they’ll replace Miller on the ballot. Chairwoman Jennifer Cantu said in a statement this week, “the FBCDP County Executive Committee will hold a vacancy election to determine the party’s nominee for the November general election on or after June 15, 2026.”
